this is by far the most buttons i've ever used on one project!

but this week the ladies at city crafter challenge blog wanted to see LOTS of buttons, so by golly i've pulled out all the stops! here is my seriously button-intensive card:

 (vintage: buttons + lace; patterned paper: dcwv + a bit of tim holtz packaging and some torn cardboard from a discarded mailing box; cardstock: core'dinations; brackets: pink paislee; chipboard sticker: my mind's eye; pearls: kaiser; ink: colorbox; adhesives: tombow monorunner, 3m foam tape, hot glue, sewing machine)

the idea of the button-encrusted heart came serendipitously from this awesome button animal tutorial that was in miss stephanie's "link love" post last thursday; the focus on textures (particularly the corrugated cardboard) and neutral colors with little pops of steely blue came from miss laurel's "rustic wreath" inspired by challenge (#28) for which this was the photo prompt, you can see i've not used it very literally, but i most definitely *WAS* inspired by it, so i hope that counts!

as it happened, that photo coincidentally chimed in rather well with this week's color throwdown palette, #196:

whenever i make a card like this people ask, "but how the heck are you going to MAIL THAT?!" well, in this case, it's most likely going to be my sister's anniversary card and thus will be delivered in person; but i do actually send things like this in the post quite frequently, in a small padded jiffy mailer. with a piece of cardboard placed over the lumpy bits for protection, and a bit of packing tape for reinforcement, it will arrive at its destination just fine!

i hope whatever ♥YOUR♥ destination is this monday morning, you arrive there happily and in good health, with plenty of energy and excitement for this brand new week! (or, alternately, with plenty of coffee to get you moving!) :) :) :)